Owen Farrell says England will “use it to our advantage” whether they go into the World Cup viewed as favourites or a team under the radar.
Current results suggest the latter, with England having finished fourth in last season’s Guinness Six Nations and standing sixth on the official World Rugby rankings list.
Farrell will head to his third World Cup – and second as captain – and lead a squad that includes 16 players with no previous experience of the sport’s biggest tournament.
“If we go in as favourites or go in under the radar, we will use it to our advantage either way. We are working away quietly,” Farrell said.
“Tournament rugby is a lot about pressure. It’s bigger than anything you usually play in, and there is a lot of outside noise.
“We might not have as much of that, but the big thing is controlling what is happening in camp and not worry about the external factors which don’t really matter. We will look forward to getting the best out of ourselves either way.
“You go into World Cups and people talk about favourites and say, ‘it’s theirs to lose’ – but it doesn’t work like that. Just look at the football World Cup when Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia.
“The whole thing for the team is to get the most out of ourselves, and we are looking forward to it. The opportunity for us is brilliant, and now that the squad is selected we can really rip in.”
While there was jubilation for England head coach Steve Borthwick’s final 33-strong World Cup group, surprise omissions included the likes of 57 times-capped Exeter centre Henry Slade and Harlequins number eight Alex Dombrandt.
Farrell added: “I have not spoken to him (Slade) yet. I shared a room with Henry for the past four weeks, so I will definitely be getting in touch with him.
“People will need to be used over the course of this next 12 weeks. It is not going to stay the same.
“People need to stay ready, people need to make sure they are ready if anything happens. Those boys who have just missed out have a big part of this preparation.
“When it comes to any squad, there is a lot of competition, especially England. There were always going to be good players that missed out.”
Saracens flanker Ben Earl was among those who made the cut, with a first World Cup now awaiting him after being in and out of England squads since making his Test debut almost three years ago.
Borthwick relayed selection news – or otherwise – to his players in Cardiff on Sunday following the 20-9 World Cup warm-up defeat against Wales.
“It was early, about nine o’clock,” Earl said. “I had just got up. I had a bit of a sleepless night.
“The back row is so competitive – the boys who have missed out, what great players and what great blokes.
“You do have to pinch yourself that you are going to a World Cup. It did seem at times over the last 18 months a long way off.
“Over the last two years, I’ve had a bit of an up and down journey in terms of being in and out of the squad.
“But I have enjoyed some successes at the club and I am probably more of a rounded individual now than I was a couple of years ago.”
Rees-Zammit relishing Mahomes advice as former rugby star eyes spot on Chiefs roster
Louis Rees-Zammit has likened Patrick Mahomes to an extra coach as he looks to make an impact in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Rees-Zammit shocked rugby union fans in January when he announced he was turning his back on the sport to enter the NFL's International Player Pathway programme.
He was signed by two-time defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City in March and is now looking to earn a place on their roster for 2024, learning the role of running back at the Chiefs' rookie minicamp after attending another training camp alongside Mahomes.
Rees-Zammit has made sure to pick the brains of Mahomes, who has led the Chiefs to six straight AFC Championship games and won three Super Bowl rings since being drafted in 2017.
"It was amazing, all the quarterbacks and receivers were there, we were running routes, we were working in the gym", Rees-Zammit said of his experience at that camp in Texas.
"It was a great two weeks, I definitely learned a lot with Pat and the other boys."
Asked if Mahomes was acting like an extra coach, he said: "100 per cent.
"I'm new to the game so I'm trying to pick everyone's brains and try and pick up the sport as quick as possible because I want to be out there playing.
"The way I can do that is picking the brains of everyone that's currently here and trying to learn the game as quickly as possible."
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has been impressed by Rees-Zammit's attitude, saying: "He's so diligent with everything and wants to be so good at everything. I appreciate that.
"I like the fact he's got shorter steps initially, that's a good thing as a running back. If you're a long strider in there you've got to really work on making it through those tight adjustments you have to make. He seems to have a nice feel."
England and Saracens number eight Vunipola fined after arrest in Mallorca
England international Billy Vunipola has confirmed he has been fined after an incident which saw him arrested in Mallorca on Sunday, with his club Saracens set to launch an internal investigation.
On Monday, widespread reports claimed Vunipola had been tasered by Spanish police in the early hours of Sunday morning, with an altercation taking place after he left a club in Palma.
Saracens later confirmed they were aware of an incident and said they would deal with it internally.
The number eight, who was born in Australia but has represented England 75 times, later released a statement of his own via his club, denying that any violence took place and confirming the police investigation was now closed.
"I can confirm I was involved in an unfortunate misunderstanding when I was leaving a club in Mallorca on Sunday, which got out of hand," that statement read.
"Contrary to media reports, there was no violence, no fight and I did not threaten anybody at any stage, with bottles or chairs or anything else.
"I was charged with resisting the law and, following an 'express trial', I have paid a fine of €240. The Spanish police investigation is now closed, and I am flying back to the UK today.
"I will obviously cooperate with the Saracens internal process and unreservedly apologise for any inconvenience to all involved."
Fraser Brown ‘hugely proud’ of Scotland career as he announces rugby retirement
Fraser Brown declared himself “hugely proud” of his Scotland career as he announced his retirement from professional rugby.
The 34-year-old Glasgow hooker has not played since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament while playing for the World XV against the Barbarians at Twickenham last May and he has now conceded defeat in his bid to return to action.
Brown won 61 Scotland caps, with the first of them coming against Italy in 2013 and the last in the Six Nations match at home to Ireland in 2023, the same game incidentally in which Stuart Hogg won his final cap. The front-rower went to both the 2015 and 2019 World Cups.
“When you have a serious injury like I did with an ACL at the end of your career, it is always going to be hard to come back from,” Brown told Scottish Rugby.
“That probably made it a little easier to announce my retirement but it’s still a surreal and strange feeling.
“I’m hugely proud to have played so many times for Scotland during my career. To get one cap was great, but then my second one came against the All Blacks at Murrayfield which was such a special occasion.
“To reach 50 caps was a big moment as I had to deal with a lot of injuries throughout my career and to be part of the growth process of the team which has resulted in where they are now has been cool.”
At club level, Brown made 141 appearances for Glasgow after joining from Edinburgh in 2011.
The hooker helped them win the Guinness Pro12 in 2015 with victory over Munster in the final in Belfast, while his last appearance for Warriors proved to be last season’s Challenge Cup final defeat by Toulon in Dublin.
Glasgow head coach Franco Smith paid tribute to Brown, saying: “Fraser is the epitome of a modern professional and someone who should serve as a role model to any young player starting their journey.
“The respect with which he is held, not only within the Glasgow Warriors community but within the wider rugby family, should serve to underline the achievements he has earned throughout his career and the manner in which he has achieved them.
“His work ethic and determination to bring the best out of the people and players around him has been clear to all throughout his career.
“I wish him the very best for whatever comes next and I know he will apply that same work ethic and determination that made him one of this club’s most distinguished Warriors.”
Brown becomes the second experienced Scotland front-rower to announce his retirement in the space of a month after Edinburgh prop WP Nel recently revealed he would be hanging his boots up at the end of this season.
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